Tripping device for harvesters



2 Sheets-Sheet 1,.

(No Model.)

I P. w. RANDALL. TrippingDevioe for Harvesters. Nth-239,982.

Patented April 12, 188i.

fizz/e n to r rLPETERS, PHOTO-LTHOQRAMER WASHINGTON. n. c.

2 Sheets-Sheet '2.

F. W. RANDALLQ Tripping Device for Harvesters, No. 239,982.

'(No'ModeL) Pa te'nted April 12, $81.

[Ill/enter:

1? azzwmw w T G m u s A w R s n P A m n w 0 m P an H H P N plan, anordinary rake-cam of a harvester with UNITED j STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS W. RANDALL, OF 'TEKONSHA, MICHIGAN.

TRIPPING DEVICE FOR HARVESTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,982, dated April12, 1881. Application filed December 2, 1880. {No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS W. RANDALL, of Tekonsha, in the county ofCalhoun and State of Michigan, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Trips for Harvester- Rakes, which improvement is fullyset forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings. a

The object of my invention is to produce a new device for tripping therake-switch of a grain-harvester for the purpose of controlling theoperation of the rakes; and it consists in parts and devices hereinafterfully explained, and more particularly pointed ontin the claims. Figure1, Sheet 1, of the drawings shows, in

my tripping device attached. Fig. 2 shows, drawn to a larger scale, aside elevation of the tripping device, with portions of the cam andreel-rake shaft. Fig. 3 is an end view of the latter figure, viewed asindicated by the arrow of said Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of theswitch, with its arm and other attachments, viewed as indicated by thearrow in Fig. 1. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a side elevation of the similarparts shown in Fig. 2, viewed in an opposite direction; Fig.6, anenlarged view of several parts shown in Fig. 5, viewed as indicated bythe arrow in the latter figure; Fig. 7, a side elevation of several ofthe parts shown in Fig. 2, viewed from the same standpoint, but showinga relative difl'erence of position of some of said parts; and Fig. 8,Sheet 1, a modification, all hereinafter fully specified. Fig. 9 is adetail view of the tripping device.

A, Fig.1, is an ordinary reel-rake cam of a grain-harvester, having theusual switch, It, shown in plan.

B is a body-piece or body of my tripping device, held to and beneath thecam by a bolt, n, at a point about ninety degrees around the cam fromthe switch. I

wis an arm rigidly attached to the lower end of the switch shaft orgudgeon b, andhas connected with it a tripping-latch, l, which reachesto and passes through a slot in thcbody B.

d is a hand-lever attached to one side of the body B, and Gthe upturnedend of a trip-arm attached to the other side of the body, mostlyobscured by a catch-bar, g, the said trip-arm being operated by the pinsof the pin-wheel h,

.in dotted position in Fig. 1, which causes the trip-latch Zto be pushedfarther through the body B, also shown in dotted position in saidfigure.

As shown in Fig. 2, (the parts enlarged bein g viewed in a directionindicated by the arrow at the bottom of Fig. 1,) the trip-armf isjournaled upon a horizontal pin, t, projecting from the body B at itsouter end, so as to allow the trip-arm to have a motion in a verticalplane, its lowermost and uppermost positions being shown, respectively,in full and dotted lines. At its extreme end the arm fis expanded into ahead and provided with parallel and equidistant ledges a a a crossingthe head obliquely. (Better shown in Fig. 3.) The triparrn f is held insuch relation to the rotating shaft 0 that the pins 0 c c c of the wheelh may strike into the grooves under the ledges of said trip-arm.

The trip-arm has a shorter arm, G, reaching upward, to which is hinged ahorizontal catchbar, g, which rests at its opposite end in a loop,

6. This catch-bar is provided with notches o 0 0 and it is evident thatif. the head of the trip-arm f be raised the catch-bar g will be carriedto the left. and drop, so that the successive notches 0 o 0 shall restupon the bottom part of the loop 0 as the head goes upward. The ledge abeing oblique, it is evident that the pin 0, striking in under thehighest.

part of said ledge, and being carried horizontally around by therotation of the shaft O,will

lift the trip-arm to the amount of the obliquity of said ledge a, whichwill cause the catch-bar g to drop, so that the notch owill rest uponthe loop 6, as above described. The catch-bar having dropped to thefirst notch, 0, the triparm f will be prevented falling, by its ownweight, to the position it just previonslyoecupied, but will be held sothat when the pin 0 approaches it will strike fairly under the ledge aand raise the arm f another degree, which will allow the bar 9 to dropto the next notch, 0, and again hold the arm f, so that the pin a maystrike under the ledge a and lift the arm, as before, allowing the bar gto drop to the third notch, 0

y is a slide-bar fitted to lie upon the under side of the arm f, towhich it is attached by screws 2 z, passing through longitudinal slotsin the said slide-bar and entering the arm. This slide-bar is providedat its end with a ledge, a similar to the ledges a a a and forming anequal one of the series of four ledges.

When the pin 0 has passed under the ledge a as above described, and thebar g has dropped to the notch 0 the ledge a will be in position for thenext pin, 0 (diametrically opposite to pin c,) by means of which the armf will be raised a fourth time.

As shown in Fig. 3, the trip-latch Zpasses through a slot, 112, in thebody B, and at its end is provided with an inclined surface, i, and ashoulder, 1".

Observing Fig. 1,when the switch is closed, as shown in full lines, andthe trip-latch lin consequence drawn in a direction away from the bodyB, the shoulder 1' of the latch will drop down by the side of the body,at the lower end of the slot m and lock the switch shut, as against theeffort of the spring 19 to open it, as above described.

Should the trip-latch by any means be raised so the shoulder Y may enterthe slot and be relieved from the pressure against the side of the bodyB, the springp will instantly drive the trip-latch through the slot mand throw the switch open.

In moving upward, as above described, the trip-arm f raises thetrip-latch and allows the spring 1? to throw the switch open.

As shown in Fig. 2, the normal position of the arm f is some distancebelow the trip-latch Z, which latter, in its lower or locking position,is shown in dotted lines.

After the pins 0 c c of the wheel h have successively passed under therespective ledges a a ed, as above stated, the trip-arm will be raisedup to the under edge of the trip-latch, the relative position of whichparts at this stage of the operation being shown in Fig. 7, Sheet 2, thecatch-bar 9 having dropped so that the extended part or above the notch0 rests upon the loop 6. Now, when the fourth pin, 0 passes underthefourth ledge, a the arm f will be raised sufficiently to lift thetrip-latch Z up into the slot m, and the switch will be immediatelyopened and allow the nearest apagain carried upward by means of the pinsof the wheel h, as above described.

When the roller of the rake which clears the platform passes within theswitch, it closes the switch, in theusual way, by pressing against theshort arm n, the closing of which causes the shoulder r of the latchZtodrop by the side of the body B and lock the switch shut until openedin the manner above described.

It will be observed, in the above-described operation of the arm f, thatup to the time the pin 0 has passed under the ledge a the switch has notbeen affected, and nothing has been accomplished, save that the arm fhas been brought to a position such that the next pin 0 may open theswitch, as stated. Consequently, if the ledge a were lacking, the latchl would not be tripped, and the switch would remain permanently closed.

The slide-bar '1 forming at its end the ledge a and held to the arm 1'by screws 2 2, passing through slots u a, is designed to be slidlongitudinally to the left, as shown in dotted position in Fig. 2, farenough to permit the said ledge a to escape the pin 0 the said slide-barbeing shown in this new position in full lines in Fig. 7.

After the ledge a has been raised above the plane of the pins they passunder said ledge without effecting anything, and the switch remainingclosed the rakes act only as reels for the grain until the ledge a isagain brought into place in the series, when the latch will beimmediately tripped and the platform raked by one rake. The number ofpins or projections 0 c, &c., must correspond with the number of rakesthe harvester is provided with.

A hand-lever, d, Figs. 2 and 5, is held by a bolt, j, to the bodyB onthe opposite side from the trip-arm said lever also resting at an--other point in a corrugated lever-rest, F, as shown in Fig. 6. When atits lowest position the lever rests upon a shoulder or ledge, 12, ofsaid lever-rest F.

The trip arm or bar f is provided with a stop-pin, s, which reacheshorizontally through under the body B, and,resting upon the lever cl, asshown, forms a stop for the descent of said trip-arm.

The bottom notch, e, of the lever-rest F is relatively so arranged thatwhen the lever d rests therein the stop-pin s, resting upon said lever,holds the arm f in such position that the ledge or projection on will beacted upon by a pin or projection of the wheel h, as above described. 1

Should the lever be raised to the notch e of the lever-rest F, thetrip-arm will be held so that the ledge a will be acted upon by a pin orprojection of the wheel h, the ledge a not being brought into use.

If the lever be adjusted to the notch 6 the ledge a will receive thefirst pin of the wheel h, the two ledges above not being acted upon; andif said lever be placed in the notch e, the ledge a will receive all thepins or projections of the wheel h as they come around.

Every time a projeetion'of the wheel It acts upon the ledge-0t the latchZ is tripped, the switch opened, and the platform raked, which occursonly when said ledge is acted upon.

If the arm f be at its lowest position, as shown in Fig. 2, three pinsmust pass the ledges before the ledge a is reached and a rake permittedto clear the platform.

If the lever. be adjusted to the notch 0 as above, every third pin willact upon the ledge a and every third rake clear the platform, and ifplaced in notch 6 every second rake will clear the platform, which willbe raked by each rake as it comes around, if-the lever be raised tonotch 6 i From the foregoing explanation of the working of the variousparts of the device it will be understood, first, that if the slide-bary be drawn back the rakes will only reel thegrain desired.

The slide-baryis provided with a curved slot, '9, and a pin, h, reachesfrom the lever (1 into said slot, by means of which the said slide-barmay be operated by said hand-lever cl, the latter being slotted wherethe bolt j passes through it to allow of sufficient endwise motion forthe purpose.

A spring, Fig. 3, under the head of the bolt j, presses against awasher, r, to hold the lever 01 snugly against the side of the body B,but at the same time will admit of the lever being sprung sufficientlyback from the body to be adjusted to the notches of the leverrest F.

An equivalent of the ledges a a a a and the pins 0 c 0 0 as shown, wouldbe to put the ledges on the periphery of the wheel h in the form ofspiral inclines, and the pins in the head of the trip-arm f in the placeof the ledges-a manner of construction I may wish to adopt.

In Fig. 8 is shown a pendent catch-bar, 8, provided with notches toreceive and hold the pin w of the trip-arm f as the latter is carriedsuccessively upward, as hereinbefore described.

A spring, 4), holds the bar against the pin in the various positions ofthe latter, and the inclined plane of the latch 1, corresponding to theinclined plane '5, above described, extends out laterally toward the bar8 as shown by dotted lines at n, so that when the latch l is driventhrough the slot m by the spring 19, as above described, said plane awill throw the bar 8 back, as shown in dotted position, and

release the pin 00 to allow the arm f to drop.

Fig. 9, Sheet 2, shows the tripping device as being adapted to bedirectly operated by the rakes instead of by the wheel h, as above setforth.

A is a sectioned portion of the rake-cam; E,

a portion of a rake having the usual roller, 8 to traverse the cam. Thestems or pins 0 of the several rakes, upon which the rollers 8 turn,extend beyond the ends of said rollers sufficiently to operate thetrip-arm f, as above described, said pins 0 of the rakes taking theplace of the pins 0 c c c of the wheel h.

I disclaim, first, in a tripping mechanism, the combination, with thelatch or part to be tripped, of a pivoted tripping-arm, an actuator formoving the tripping-arm in one direction step by step, to trip the latchor part to be tripped, and means for preventing a return movement of thetripping-arm while being operated upon by. the actuator; second, in atripping mechanism, the combination, with a latch or part to be tripped,of a pivoted tripping-arm, an actuator for moving the tripping-arm inone direction step by step. to trip the latch or part to be tripped,means forpreventing the return movement of the tripping-arm while beingoperated upon by the actuator, and means for returning the tripping-armto its normal or first position after being released from the detainingmeans; third, in a tripping mechanism, the combination, with the latchor part to be tripped, of a pivoted tripping-arm, an actuator for movingthe tripping arm in one direction, to trip the latch or part to betripped, means for preventing the return movement of the tripping-armwhile being operated upon by the actuator, a means for returning thetripping-arm to its normal or first position after being released fromits detaining device, and means for automatically releasing thetripping-arm from the detaining device as the latch or' part is tripped;fourth, the combination of the pivoted trippin g-arm', its means forreturning it, and a stop for arresting its return movement; fifth, thecombination of the pivoted tripping-arm, its means for returning it, theadjustable stop arm, the lever on which the stop is mounted, and a meansfor locking the lever in difierent positions; sixth, the combination ofa latch, a reciprocating pivoted tripping -arm, means for moving thetripping-arm in one direction to trip the latch, and means for moving itin the opposite direction toreturn it to its first or normal positionafter tripping the latch; seventh, thecombination of a latch, areciprocatin g pivoted tripping-arm, an actuator for moving thetripping-arm in one direction step by step, to trip the latch, and meansfor returning the tripping-arm to its normal or first position. I am notthe first inventor of the foregoing.

I claim as my invention-- 1. A catch-bar, g, and trip-arm f, withsuittion with a trip-latch, 2, provided with an inclined plane, 6, forthe purpose set forth.

2. In combination, the rake-cam A and rake shaft 0 of a grain-harvester,with the slotted body B, trip-arm f, trip-latch l, catclrbar g, andwheel h, substantially as set forth.

' 3. The combination, with the body B and trip-arm f, substantially asshown, of the slide 5 able means to operate the latter, in combina bary, provided with a ledge, a and curved wheel h, an arm or bar, f,provided with a seslot g, and a lever, d, provided with a pin, it, riesof ledges or projections, a a" a a one of entering said slot, for thepurpose set forth. which is removable from the series, substan- 4. Incombination with'the body B and triptially as described and shown.

armf, with its stop-pin s, a stop-lever, d, and 7. I11 combination withthe rake-shaft O of 20 corrugated lever-rest F, substantially as deagrain -harves ter, a wheel, h, provided with scribed and shown.projections c c c 0 an arm, f, provided with 5. In combination with thetrip-arm f, proprojections a a a a and catch-bar g, With'a vided withledges a a a? a and stop-pin s, and loop or catch, a, for the latter,substantially as ro device h, for operating said trip arm, an adshown.

justable stopping device, d, by means of which the trip-arm may be held,so that a part or all FRANCIS RANDALL of said ledges may be acted uponby the said Witnesses: device h, as described. 0. A. SHERWOOD, r5 6. Incombination with the shaft 0 and pin- 0. D. DEWEY.

